Peer – Review Process

  1. A reviewer is an expert who conducts a scientific review of an author's work (such as articles) on behalf of a scientific journal or publisher, in order to determine its suitability for publication.
  2. All manuscripts submitted to the journal's editorial board and within its thematic scope undergo peer review.
  3. Reviewers include experts from the Editorial Board and International Editorial Council of the Turkic Studies Journal, as well as external experts who are leading scholars and specialists in the journal’s field. All reviewers must hold a relevant academic degree and have published works on the topic within the last three years.
  4. The Editor-in-Chief or Deputy Editors-in-Chief make the decision on which reviewer will evaluate an article.
  5. Each article is reviewed by two experts in the field. If necessary, the Editorial Board may assign additional reviewers.
  6. The review process is conducted confidentially. Neither reviewers nor authors are informed of each other’s personal information or academic affiliations (double-blind review). Confidentiality may be breached only if a reviewer reports falsification or unreliability in the manuscript’s content.
  7. The review period for each article has been set to ensure that it is published as promptly as possible. The review process should not exceed one month.
  8. The review must address the following aspects:
    a) The extent to which the content of the article corresponds to the stated topic.
    b) Its relevance to current scientific achievements;
    c) Whether the article complies with the journal’s structural and publication requirements;
    d) Readability in terms of language, style, structure, and the clarity of tables, diagrams, illustrations, and figures;
    e) The article's strengths and weaknesses, including recommendations for corrections and additions to be made by the author.
  9. Based on their evaluation, the reviewers will provide one of the following recommendations for the article, justifying their decision:
  • The article is recommended for publication.
  • The article is recommended for publication after minor revisions.
  • The article requires additional review by another expert.
  • The article cannot be published in the journal.
  1. If the review contains recommendations for correcting or revising the article, the editorial board will return the manuscript to the author and request that they either incorporate the recommended changes when preparing a revised version, or provide a reasoned rebuttal. The revised manuscript is then resubmitted for a second round of review.
  2. If the author(s) decline to revise the manuscript, they must inform the editorial board of their decision to withdraw the article from publication. If a revised manuscript is not submitted within one month of the review being received, the editorial board will remove the manuscript from consideration, even without a formal notification of withdrawal. The authors are notified that the manuscript has been deregistered due to the revision period expiring.
  3. If the author and reviewers cannot reach an agreement on the manuscript, the editorial board may refer it for further review. In cases of conflict, the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision at an Editorial Board meeting.
  4. The Editorial Board makes the decision to accept or reject a manuscript for publication at a meeting, in accordance with the reviewers’ recommendations.
  5. The existence of a positive review does not guarantee publication. The final decision is made by the journal’s Editorial Board and recorded in the minutes of the Editorial Board meeting. Articles that are not recommended for publication by the Editorial Board are not subject to reconsideration.

Reasons for rejecting an article may include the following:

  • The manuscript does not align with the journal’s scope;
  • The manuscript does not meet submission requirements;
  • Negative expert reviews;
  • A decision by the Editorial Board, as recorded in the meeting minutes;
  • Ethical violations by the author.
  1. The Editorial Board notifies authors of acceptance or rejection of publication via e-mail or through the journal’s submission system.
  2. Copies of reviews are stored in the editorial office for a period of five years.